A Background Character’s Path to Power

"Please, don't resist it..."

As I let my mental aura enter the chief's mind, the world around me shifted into something far more intimate and vulnerable than mere sight could offer.

There was a slight resistance, but chief took care of it.

It wasn't just seeing in colors or shapes, but it felt like I was witnessing a profound internal landscape. I could feel the steady currents of his consciousness itself, like ancient waters flowing through solid rock, strong and resilient.

Within this landscape, certain areas shone brighter, more vibrantly.

These were the warm glow of contentment from his recent recovery, a steady thrum of unwavering loyalty to his clan, and a resonant hum of deep pride in his people. These and a few other emotions formed the robust and unshakable anchors of his spirit.

Yet, beneath all that, like faint shadows flickering in the deepest parts of a dense forest, I sensed the lingering imprints of past and present burdens. They weren't explicit since the others had already enveloped them.

They were more like echoes of strains, from the weight of his leadership, responsibility, the pain, and so on. There was also a faint, dull throb of weariness from the recent incident.

But it was nothing crucial, merely the cumulative toll on a chief who carried the immense weight of his entire community on his broad shoulders. Just like... Baron Nusayel.

Anyway, he was already fine now. But I still decided to mend them a bit. This was also beneficial for me since I could improve my efficiency and mastery.

I guided my aura, moving it like a gentle, restorative current through these regions, subtly coaxing the dissonant energies to realign, smoothing the rough edges of his spirit.

Although I was better at mental mending, it wasn't enough to completely erase such deep-rooted burdens. It would require the chief's own inner work over time. But I could ease the immediate pressure, like loosening a knot just enough to let blood flow freely again.

The shadows grew softer and smaller, less sharp-edged. The dull throbbing of weariness began to fade, replaced by a cleaner, clearer sense of mental vitality. It was like watching muddy water gradually clear as sediment settled.

As I worked, I felt his consciousness responding.

His breathing deepened even further, and through the connection, I could sense his surprise at the relief washing over him. He hadn't even realized how much mental strain he'd been carrying until it began to lift.

After several minutes of careful work, I gradually withdrew my aura and consciousness, letting the connection fade naturally rather than severing it abruptly.

The mental landscape dissolved, and I was back in the warm yurt, surrounded by firelight and the scent of burning wood.

I opened my eyes to find Kath'mar staring at me in pure awe and gratitude.

"T-That was..." he began, his deep voice unusually quiet as he touched his body. "I feel... I feel clear. Lighter... As if a fog I didn't know was there had been lifted from my thoughts."

Then he turned to me. "Thank you, benefactor, you have helped me once again. You... You didn't just heal me... but also gave peace."

Ha paused, studying me carefully, his expression shifting to concern. "But are you alright, benefactor? You look..."

Before I could process what he meant, I felt a cool touch of fabric against my forehead. A slender hand started gently wiping away what I now realized was cold sweat beaded on my skin during the mending.

I stopped breathing as my eyes met a pair of beautiful, concerned sapphire orbs.

The touch was careful, soft, almost reverent in its tenderness. Cassandra's veiled face was close to my left side, her brows furrowed with worry as she dabbed at my forehead with her handkerchief.

I stayed still, not daring to move a muscle, caught in the sudden intimacy of her gaze and touch, until she retracted her hand. A faint, almost imperceptible blush tinged her veiled cheeks before she subtly averted her eyes.

"T-Thank you..." I barely managed to mutter out the words.

"Mmm..." Cassandra meekly nodded before taking her seat.

An awkward silence settled between us.

"Ahem."

The chief cleared his throat softly, a knowing glint passing through his eyes as he glanced between me and Cassandra.

"Are you really ok, benefactor?" He asked concernedly. "If you aren't feeling well, I will call the-"

"No, there's no need to." I cut him off. "It's a natural side effect of mental mending. Nothing more than fatigue from the work."

I wiped my palms on my robes, trying to regain my composure after that unexpectedly intimate moment. The lingering warmth of Cassandra's touch still seemed to echo in my forehead. It seems I needed some healing myself.

"Mental mending does take more out of me than physical healing," I continued, forcing my voice to sound steady. "I'll be fine after a moment's rest."

The chief nodded in understanding. "As you say, benefactor. Still, your abilities are truly remarkable. To heal not just the body, but the very spirit itself. You have taken a difficult but rewarding path. I have heard of this path, a path of an Ethereal Mender, if I'm not mistaken. Seeing one who walks this path is truly a rare honor."

I nodded, filing away his words.

Path of Ethereal Mender.

So that's what my abilities were classified under in the Resonance power system. It was probably a hybrid path too, a mix of Mystic and Specialist paths. I'd need to research more about it when I have the time, maybe I can really walk this path.

"You are flattering me," I replied with a modest smile. "I'm only doing what I can do, and as you can see, I'm still a beginner. There are so many things to learn and improve upon."

The chief's eyes crinkled with understanding, but the respect in his eyes didn't diminish. Before he could continue praising me, I quickly shifted the conversation.

"Anyway, just remember what I said about avoiding aura usage for another week, actually make it ten days," I said, adopting a more professional tone. "Once the time passes, you can return to being the clan's strongest leader again."

"Of course, benefactor, I'll heed your words."